Zane accepts blame after Jets downed

INTERIM Newcastle Jets coach Clayton Zane has taken responsibility for his team's 3-0 loss to Central Coast in his first game in charge on Saturday night.

Taking over from Gary van Egmond who was sacked early last week, Zane admitted playing Adam Taggart, Josh Brillante and Andrew Hoole (pictured) after they arrived back mid-week from Australian U22 duty in Oman may have been a mistake.

"I threw them to the wolves a bit," he said.

Zane also said switching straight away to a 4-4-2 system from the 4-3-3 employed by his predecessor may have been premature.

"I take responsibility a little bit for the shape and set up," he said.

"I told them to be bold in attack and we were left wide open."

Zane said returning star striker Joel Griffiths was likely to come off the bench against Western Sydney on Saturday.